Hey, I'm Mandy, 32 year old from Charleston,SC. I was Diagnosed on August 28, 2015. I would like to share my story of how I became HIV positive. I met a guy online off one of the dating sites and we talked every day (all day long). We video chatted and we connected really well and I fell in love with him. He invited me to come live with him in NY so I did. We were together for 2 1/2 years. Little did I know he was cheating on me the whole time with multiple women until one of the women sent me pictures of them together.
The moment I found out he was cheating I decided to move back home to Charleston. I moved in with my aunt and she and I talked about what happened. We agreed I needed to be tested for everything. I had no symptoms whatsoever (you don't always have symptoms). So I scheduled a drs appointment to get tested. Well, a week later I got a phone call from my drs office asking me to come in. When I arrived it was like they were waiting for me. I usually had to wait before they called me back. This time was different. They took me right on back. Within minutes my dr came in and greeted me. She sat down and within a few minutes I got the news that would change my life. She told me that my HIV test came back positive.
I felt like my life was over and I was going to die within days. At the time I knew nothing about HIV/AIDS. I was in a funk for a while. I wanted to commit suicide and then I came across Maria Mejia's YouTube videos and after watching every single one of her videos my thoughts changed. I saw that she has been living with this virus for a long time and her positive words helped me see that I am not alone and there are lots of people just like me and you with this Human Condition. I just want you to know that you are not alone either and you can do anything you put your mind to and still do what you always planned to do with your life. HIV is no longer a death sentence BUT, it is a life sentence. As long as you take your meds, go to your Dr appointments and live a healthy lifestyle you will live a long healthy life.
Why Mandy wants to be part of A Girl Like Me: I want to be part of A Girl Like Me to end Stigma and to let people know that HIV doesn't have a certain look. It doesn't matter how a person looks - Sexy, Fine, Beautiful, Muscular, etc… they could be HIV positive. So, please ALWAYS have PROTECTED SEX.
LET'S END STIGMA AND HIV TOGETHER!!!!
PEACE AND LOVE
